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29xxmalexxjapanesexxdimensional storagexxbusiness development managerxx#60B6C6
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Born to the CEO of Taiyou Microsystems and an international actress, both Metori (then Makoto) and his brother, Yuki lived their lives under a microscope. Whether it was dinner with family friends or acting in a school play, they maintained a dignified image. It wasn't enough to be born a winner, Makoto needed to prove it. He needed perfect grades. He needed to be the team's ace. He needed to win enough votes to be class president. To ensure that he didn't revel in his family's wealth, all of his privileges were gated behind achievement. If Makoto wanted to buy a new Lamborghini, his team needed to place first. If he wanted to study abroad in Paris, he needed to be number one in his class. If he wanted to take the limo to school, he needed to court his father's investor's daughter. Life was truly exhausting as a Higashikata.
Where his brother's magnetism attracted investors and figureheads alike, Makoto approached his connections more humbly. He flitted from social group to social group, acquiring a wider, but less prestigious network. Despite his surname, Makoto considers himself a self-made man. He never asked for (more) money nor did he throw his name around, even at the cost of renown. He wanted to create his own legacy and he knew that as long as he operated under the Higashikata name, he would never be more than his father's second son. For that reason, he not only went to university in another country, but he applied to a Chinese electronics company under a new name. His goal was simple: secure a well-paying job while sowing himself in a foreign market. To his friends and family, he would be Makoto Higashikata, a graduate student of Oxford University but those at his workplace he would be a young-blooded sales representative.
As he soon found out, Makoto Higashikata was not suited for such a pedestrian role. He despised the long hours and lack of upward mobility. He felt less like an asset and more like a cog in a machine. A sane man, may have chosen to crawl back into his family's wealthy womb, but he had no intention of swallowing his pride. He continued with his head down, filling his days with work, his evenings with culture-mandated socializing, and his weekends entertaining the latest event Taiyou Microsystems was hosting.
The day after his twenty-eighth birthday news broke that the second son of the Higashikata family was found "cheating" on his long-term girlfriend, Kokomi Teruhashi of Teruhashi Motor Company. Pictures of Makoto passed out in a hostess's lap circulated on Twitter before emerging on Yahoo Japan. Granted, Kokomi cared little for the Higashikata male (they were both aware that the relationship was purely optics); however, the damage done to both of their reputations was unforgivable. How could a man of such renown be caught committing debauchery? And with a rival company no less. According to reporters, not only had Makoto been working for Lenovo's Japanese branch for more than a year, he also legally changed his name to Metori Sun.
Strangely, Makoto laughed off the entire situation. With his reputation driven into the ground, he didn't need to live a double-life anymore. He could start from nothing, or close to it. His boon came in the form of his former roommate's start-up. Though they weren't that close after college, Makoto managed to keep in just enough contact to inspire sympathy when the topic came up over their call. The business was young and if he were to acquire a position, Makoto would need to emigrate; however, he knew it would be enough to save face. After mild cajoling, Metori convinced him to make an offer on the condition that he work for reduced pay. After securing a passport and housing via an old friend (read: real estate mogul) from his study abroad program, he headed off to California.
His first year was rough given the cultural barrier and bouts of remorse that followed his move. Ignoring his social safety net, connections, and trust fund, he was lost; he felt empty without the former prestige in his name. He thrust himself into his work, quickly climbing up the ranks with a combination of business savvy and friendly insincerity. Ego death wasn't easy for anyone, especially not for a man who failed to overshadow his father. To make matters worse, a flight back from a business trip in New York ended with him in quarantine due to the outbreak of the Phoenix virus. During his company's lockdown both he and two of his coworkers were photographed entering the hospital. He'd become one of the poster boys for the virus. Practically though, the fever passed within two days and he was allowed back to work, albeit with some controversy by both Japanese and American Twitter.
Signs of his powers began showing up a few weeks ago, causing Metori's already reserved demeanor to become more closed off. The thin veneer of politeness grew into an emotionally distant wall, pushing back many of his friends and co-workers. He wishes that he could blame it on the virus, but truthfully his rebirth only unmasked his inability to process his emotions and the lack of sincerity.
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Most would assume that Metori's power has no downsides, but it has proven as much of a nuisance as a convenience. He can't touch things with his bare hands without "swallowing" them. He has to dig for hours just to find his keys. His food will, out of nowhere, disappear without ever touching his lips.
They are also quite disgusting.
Rather than melding seamlessly into his palm, each hand has a humanoid mouth. Much like the one on his face, the ones in his hands have their own tongue, teeth, and even lips. Though they lack the ability to taste or chew, Metori can't bear to look at his palms for too long as they seem to have a mind of their own, smirking at the thought of swallowing another item. Because of this, he has taken to wearing long sleeves and clasping his hands closed whenever gloves are unavailable (or inappropriate). It was bad enough that the media followed his battle with the Phoenix virus; letting somebody see his power would be social suicide.
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dislikes: bitter foods, shame, public transportation, vulnerability
strengths: picking up new skills, emotional compartmentalization, reading body language, bilingual
weaknesses: social anxiety, cannot multi-task, self-centered, hoarding
quirks: tapping his fingers together, trying something new every time he goes to a restaurant, buying clothes to fill the void
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code: bethelit
rp owner: CutUp
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